Taste & Tell

Here's which supermarket's buttery croissants came tops in our taste test

We rated flaky pastries from five leading retailers

05 May 2019 - 00:01
By Hilary Biller
The word croissant means crescent, a reference to this pastry's moon-like shape.
Image: 123RF/5second The word croissant means crescent, a reference to this pastry's moon-like shape.

HOW WE CONDUCTED OUR TASTE TEST

IT'S FREE AND FAIR!

We know that taste is a subjective thing and what’s good for one may not be for someone else. But it is interesting that, when a group of tasters come together, the results are usually consistent — there’s always a favourite and least-favoured item.

For this taste test, we invited a group of mothers to attend a blind-tasting of supermarket products in Johannesburg.

To ensure the taste test was free and fair, food expert Jenny Kaye was in the kitchen to supervise as products were removed from their packaging, numbered and, where necessary, cooked or reheated according to package instructions.

Auditor Jade Craig oversaw the entire process: she checked the products in the kitchen, sat in on the tasting, and collated the scores.

THE RESULTS

FIRST PLACE: PICK N PAY

French Butter Croissants

Price: R16.99 each

What our judges said:

  • Alex: Loved the buttery taste and the soft fluffy inside.
  • Sue: Very light and tasty. I would buy this one.
  • Simone: Fresh tasting, it was perfectly flaky and tasted buttery. Good for the soul.
From top to bottom: croissants from Pick n Pay, Checkers, Food Lover's Market, Woolworths and Spar.
Image: Christoph Hoffman From top to bottom: croissants from Pick n Pay, Checkers, Food Lover's Market, Woolworths and Spar.

SECOND PLACE: CHECKERS

18 Anderson Croissants

Price: R39.99

What our judges said:

  • Megan: Looks and tastes more like a bread dough.
  • Joy: Looks appealing but is doughy inside.
  • Stacy: Consistency is like bread.

THIRD PLACE: FOOD LOVER'S MARKET

Croissant

Price: R5.99 each

What our judges said:

  • Simone: Like an Instagram model, looks pretty but has no substance.
  • Alex: Looks like a mini loaf of bread and tastes like it too.
  • Lorraine: Funny aftertaste.

FOURTH PLACE: WOOLWORTHS

All Butter Croissant

Price: R69.99 for 8

What our judges said:

  • Misha: This is more of a roll than a croissant.
  • Stacy: Dry, tastes like a roll.
  • Joy: Looks machine-made, not rolled and folded.

FIFTH PLACE: SPAR

Plain Croissant

Price: R10.99 each

What our judges said:

  • Shelley: Heavy, chewy with funny aftertaste.
  • Megan: Horrible - oily, stale and hard.
  • Simone: Salty and crispy but not in a good way and tastes as if made with old grease.